In this deeply honest and wide‑ranging episode of Live Free Ride Free, Rupert Isaacson speaks with family therapist and author Amanda Atkins about what it truly means to parent a high‑needs child — and how parents survive, adapt, and rediscover joy along the way.

Amanda shares the personal story behind her book How to Handle More Than You Can Handle, written from lived experience as the mother of Asher, a teenager with Prader‑Willi Syndrome. Together, Rupert and Amanda explore overwhelm, grief, resilience, humor, identity, marriage, community, and the long‑term realities of parenting children with disabilities.

The conversation moves fluidly between personal reflection and practical insight — from navigating cortisol burnout and therapy overload, to the importance of nature, play, humor, and following the child’s passions. This episode also looks ahead to adulthood, community living, relationships, and what it means to build sustainable structures for life beyond childhood.

✨ “You’re allowed to be more than just a caretaker.” – Amanda Atkins
✨ “Joy isn’t optional. It’s how we survive.” – Rupert Isaacson

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🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why overwhelm and isolation are so common for parents of special‑needs children — and why talking honestly about it matters ([00:01:06])
• How grief, identity loss, and resilience intersect in parenting high‑needs children ([00:05:13])
• Amanda’s path from therapist‑in‑training to caregiver advocate — and why she focuses on parents, not prescriptions ([00:06:02])
• What Prader‑Willi Syndrome looks like in daily life, including food obsession, routine, and nervous‑system regulation ([00:03:11], [00:20:36])
• Why humor — especially toilet humor — can restore dignity, bonding, and regulation ([00:16:36])
• The neuroscience of cortisol overload, burnout, and why “doing less” can sometimes heal more ([01:07:45]–[01:11:21])
• How following a child’s passionate interests supports development, confidence, and joy ([01:13:29])
• Why community and informal support networks matter more than formal services alone ([00:55:06], [01:22:22])
• Navigating adolescence, friendships, dating, and independence for neurodivergent teens ([01:18:53]–[01:24:36])
• How parents can reclaim joy, meaning, and a sense of self beyond caregiving ([00:51:01], [01:33:48])

🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• Amanda describes the emotional impact of being handed a diagnosis at 26 — and the pressure to be a “special‑needs warrior” ([00:04:00])
• A candid conversation about marriage, cortisol poisoning, and why most special‑needs couples burn out ([01:05:38]–[01:10:05])
• Asher’s first homecoming date — and how community quietly held the moment ([01:22:22])
• Rupert explains theory of mind through teasing — and why joking is a developmental milestone ([00:27:26])
• Amanda reads a powerful passage from her book on identity, meaning, and self‑compassion ([01:33:48])

📚 Books, Projects & Resources Mentioned:
Amanda Griffith Atkins:
https://www.amandagriffithatkins.com/
https://www.instagram.com/amanda.griffith.atkins/

How to Handle More Than You Can Handle – Amanda Atkins: https://amzn.to/3LjgWSH
ning Systems

Camp Hill Communities (historical model for residential care)

Square Peg Foundation (California) https://squarepegfoundation.org

🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:

Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

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New Trails Learning Systems
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📊 Affiliate Disclosure:

Links to books and products may include affiliate tracking. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.